She owns a dog named Zinfandel, and a wine and gourmet food store, so who better to ask about popular labels featuring the four legged than Ashley Lockwood of Cork and Cracker, located at 2126 Broad Ripple Avenue?

"Most people won't admit it right away," she says when asked if many customers come in looking specifically for animals on labels. "More women than men ask, and actually many customers think a prettier label means a better wine," says Lockwood.

Even Ashley fell prey to the label lure while working in a retail wine store in Venice Beach, California - but the label that caught her eye had no animals or art on it. That is why it intrigued her.

"Page 23. A small producer in California at the time. It was the simplest and yet prettiest label. And it was delicious wine."

Just for fun, we GOOGLED the website for Page 23 to see if old labels can still do new tricks - regretfully not for this winery, as the latest label is still sans animal or art. It's just not as "elegant" as the original that Ashley so admired. I told her to order a few bottles to see if the inside of the bottle was still divine despite the outside.

"It's a trend," says distributor Bill Kennedy of Crossroads Vintners about the abundance of animals on wine bottle labels. "It's a category that's getting a little crowded actually." Kennedy carries a few bottles with animal instinct, such as Big Moose Red - A screwcap syrah blend, and Amigos, which offers an amusing label featuring canine caricatures of the three men behind the wine. They are Chile, Snazz and Moondoggy on the label. . . and Mike, Larry and Greg in person - three well versed wine men from the Napa area. Visit www.crossroadsvintners.com for more.

Amigos 2002 Napa Valley Red Table wine - Bursting with lush, bright aromas and flavors of cherries, soft vanilla, and black pepper. Terrific with grilled meats or pizza, lasagna or pasta of any sort.

2002 Goundry Offspring Cabernet Sauvignon - Sheep on the label - but not wool pulling on your palate - as this dry red offers peppery rich red fruit aromas and flavors.

2002 Alaura Chianti - Horses on the label and fresh dry fruity flavors on the drink. Great value bottle for distinct cheeses, pasta, and burgers - but not with hay.

2002 Goats du Roam Red - Goat on the label for play on Cà´tes du Rhà´ne wines. No playing around in the bottle as this terrific value offers spice, black fruits and softly silky lingering finish.

Wow. If there was ever a white wine made for a man, this is it. It's rich and round, but not sweet or buttery - lots of energetic tropical fruit flavors of pineapple, chimoya and a touch of passion fruit. Oh - wait a minute. Am I describing the wine or the label? Both, which is why if this line of wine doesn't sell to men then there really IS truth to that myth that "real men" only drink red. I think many real men are just a bit afraid to admit that they like white wines. Here's the chance to not admit to liking the well balanced taste of this Chardonnay, and purchase for the equally scrumptious label on JUNO CAPE MAIDENS. Eye candy that tastes as good as it looks.

If you READ the label then you'll find that winemaker Newald Marais desires to make full-bodied wines. Artist Tertia du Toit designs labels with flirtatious mystique. Her husband Johan du Toit and his business partner, Oliver Kirsten, promise voluptuous values.

I've been a fan of South African wines for years. As a poor, young, but well-wine-read journalist, I used to enjoy the treasure hunt at Kahn's Fine Wines on 54th and Keystone. Finding the South African wines then was not too hard, as they were on the "black sheep" bottom shelf to the left when you walked in the door. That spot probably had too much wine-aging sun from the window, but oh - the treasures found, drank and shared from that shelf. . .

Today you don't have to hunt for these gems, which is good for poor old journalists with bad knees and penchants for great-tasting value wines.